Jim Tressel, Ohio State University Head Coach is scheduled to attend the 2008 Football Forum.

DALLAS, April 23, 2008 – The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) and the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) announced today that they will jointly host an inaugural Football Forum in Dallas, Texas, from May 15-16. At the two-day event, leaders from the world of college football and the media will gather to discuss the major challenges shaping today’s college football landscape.

“Ensuring the future of our sport remains paramount, and the NFF board wanted to play a role in creating a healthy dialogue between the leaders of our sport and the media,” said NFF President & CEO Steven J. Hatchell. “By creating greater access for the media in a relaxed setting, we hope that the forum can become an annual affair that will create a greater understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing our sport between all the parties involved.”

The event, entitled College Football: Today and Tomorrow, will be broken in to four sessions, and discussion topics will include media relations, academics, recruiting, player conduct, the obligations of coaches beyond the field, coaching compensation and contracts, minority coaching opportunities, the economics of the sport, post-season imperatives, the influence of the NFL on the college game, the state of high school football and the health of the game.

“This is a great opportunity for college coaches, administrators and the media to move from a press conference structure to a more relaxed atmosphere where an exchange of ideas and information can flow freely,” said Steve Richardson, executive director of the Football Writers Association of America. “We certainly hope that this becomes an annual staple of the college football scene and will grow in popularity over the years where the media can engage some of the best minds in college football about the pertinent topics of the day.”

Panelists scheduled to attend include:

• Kevin Anderson, United States Military Academy Athletics Director


• Mark Mangino, University of Kansas Head Coach


• Gary Patterson, Texas Christian University Head Coach


• Jim Tressel, Ohio State University Head Coach


• Dr. T. K. Wetherell, Florida State University President


• Tyrone Willingham, University of Washington Head Coach


• Kevin White, University of Notre Dame Athletics Director

As space is limited, media may email pmarwill@footballfoundation.com to request an invitation to attend.

Media currently scheduled to attend includes the Associated Press, USA Today, ESPN, CBS SportsLine, the Sporting News, and several more of the nation’s top writers and editors.

The event sponsors include the Heisman Trophy Trust, the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award, the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, the FedEx Orange Bowl and Schutt Sports.

Other participants include representatives from the NCAA, the conference offices of all 11 Football Bowl Subdivisions; all five of the BCS bowl games, the Division I-A Athletics Directors Association, the American Football Coaches Association, National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, North Texas High School Coaches Association, and the College Sports Information Directors of America.

About the Football Writers of America
The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consists of more than 900 men and women across North America who cover college football for a living. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include gameday operations, major awards, a national poll and its annual All-America team. Learn more at http://www.sportswriters.net/fwaa

About The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame:
Founded in 1947 with leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl “Red” Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame, a non-profit educational organization, runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people. With 121 chapters and 12,000 members nationwide, NFF programs include the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind., the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, Play It Smart, and scholarships of over $1 million for college and high school scholar-athletes. The NFF presents the MacArthur Trophy, the Draddy Trophy, presented by HealthSouth, and releases the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) Standings. Learn more at www.footballfoundation.org

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